Written Answers Wednesday 30 May 2007

Scottish Executive

Building Standards

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its top objectives are for building standards.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The SBSA’s draft corporate plan sets strategic objectives for the agency for the period 2007-10. These are:

  
Develop and promote a strategy for achieving net zero carbon buildings.
Complete the next stage in that strategy by a significant cut in expected carbon emissions from new buildings.
Further the use of micro generation and low and zero carbon technologies.
Complete implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Introduce better standards to prevent noise nuisance.
Improve means of escape from fire.
Increase compliance with building standards.
Improve verification of building standards.
Improve the dissemination of information and service to stakeholders.

Concessionary Travel

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made to the criteria for qualification for concessionary bus travel.

Stewart Stevenson: The qualifying criteria set out under Article 3 of the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2006 have remained in force since their introduction on 1 April 2006. These criteria standardised the various eligibility criteria applied under the former locally run concessionary bus travel schemes.

Concessionary Travel

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any changes to the criteria for qualification for concessionary bus travel have had on the eligibility of sufferers of fibromyalgia for concessionary bus travel.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the local concessionary bus travel schemes formerly administered by individual local authorities and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE), various eligibility criteria were applied which entitled some sufferers of fibromyalgia to receive free bus travel in their local area. On introduction of the national free bus travel scheme, a standardised set of eligibility criteria was established, as set out in Article 3 of the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2006. These national criteria, which were developed with the agreement of local authorities, SPTE, transport operators and the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, do not encompass those receiving the lower rate of the mobility or care component of the Disability Living Allowance, including sufferers of fibromyalgia.

NHS Finance

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure outcomes in relation to investment in the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Executive has a range of measures which reflect the outcomes generated by investment in the NHS. These include long-term, high-level measures such as changes in Health Life Expectancy and levels of health inequality, as well as a range of operational measures used as the basis for on-going performance management.

Prison Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is advising the in-house bid team in respect of the new prison at Low Moss on the procurement rules.

Mr Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Bridging the Gap (BtG) team was formed and resourced by the SPS to prepare a bid for the new prison at Bishopbriggs; governance arrangements were put in place to allow the team to operate independently of the SPS board.

  The BtG team made their own arrangements regarding legal and other advice. They have confirmed that they are being advised by Dundas & Wilson CS and Tribal Consulting.

Rail Network

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward legislation to provide for a railway station in the village of Blackridge on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland are currently in discussions with West Lothian Council about the most appropriate powers to take forward the provision of a station at Blackridge.

Rail Network

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any necessary legislation to provide for a new railway station in the village of Blackridge can be enacted in time to enable building work to be carried out at the same time as the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line is being constructed.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland are still in discussions with West Lothian Council about the most appropriate powers to use to take forward the building of the station at Blackridge.

  It is the intention that this would be pursued in time to allow for the station to be constructed at the same time as the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Rail Network

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it will commit to ensure that a railway station is build in the village of Blackridge on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no additional funding for the provision of a station at Blackridge. Funding for the station will have to be met by savings in the current budget or through third party contributions, which may include contributions from property developers.

Roads

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will revisit both the route and the scale of the proposed upgrade of the A/M80 where it passes through Cumbernauld.

Stewart Stevenson: No.

Special Advisers

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special advisers will be appointed; what their specific responsibilities will be, and what the total annual cost of the posts will be.

Mr John Swinney: The First Minister has today confirmed six full-time appointments, one part-time appointment, one unpaid part-time appointment, and one short-term appointment until the end of July 2007. All of these appointments are conditional on satisfactory security, health and reference clearances. The names and specific responsibilities of the special advisers appointed are:

  

Name
Specific Responsibilities


Duncan Hamilton (part time)
Political adviser to the First Minister


Professor Sir Neil McCormick
(part-time unpaid)
Adviser on Europe and external relations


Kevin Pringle
Main political spokesperson and senior adviser on communications issues across all portfolios


Stephen Noon
Senior adviser on policy matters across all portfolios


Noel Dolan
Senior policy adviser to the Deputy First Minister 


John McFarlane
Policy adviser, supporting Mr Noon


Jennifer Dempsie
Communications adviser and parliamentary liaison


Geoff Aberdein
Advice on diary issues and support for Parliamentary Liaison Officers


Jennifer Erickson 
(short-term contract)
Project managing the establishment of the Council of Economic Advisers



  The estimated total annual salary costs will be £425,156 subject to a salary review from 1 April 2007. This figure includes ERNIC but does not include employer pension contributions as special advisers have not yet indicated whether they wish to join a Civil Service pension scheme.